Self-dumping pan



Nov. 5, 1946. G, sMlTH 2,410,754

SELF-DUMPING PAN Filed Aug. 17, 1942 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 GI/ber/ 501i Nov.5, 1946.

G. SMITH 2,410,754

SELF-DUMPING PAN FiledAug. 17, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 as as" Fio.6.

JPnMIr/ar Hrranwsy Nov. 5, 1946. SMITH 2,410,754

I SEL'F-DUMPING PAN Gi/berf SrmY/I,

Nov. 5, 1946. s rn- 2,410,754

SELF-DUMPING PAN Filed Aug. 17, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 5, 1946. G.SMITH SELF-DUMPING PAN Filed Aug. 17, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 5,1946. G. SMITH SELF-DUMPING PAN Filed Aug. 17, 1942 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6mu? 1. 8 I IMI H l I l lilnllll 3mm Gi/b en 5011'),

Nov. 5, 1946. s rr 2,410,754

SELF-DUMPING PAN Filed Aug. 17, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented Nov. 5,1946 UNIED STATES Zglltfiitt SELF-DUMPING PAN Gilbert Smith,Fayetteville, W. Va.

Application August 17, 1942, Serial No. 455,091

11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in selfdumping pans or boxes suchas used in my Patent No. 2,138,750 dated November 29, 1938, andapplication Serial No. 356,879 filed September 14, 1940.

The main object of this invention is .to construct a pan or box for usein handling coal and like material in conjunction with an unloadingapparatus and in which the dumping operation is entirely automatic.

Another object is to construct a dump box or pan in such a manner thatthe drop doors are capable of assuming closed position after dumping byvirtue of cooperation v i h portions of the unloader platform,

Other objects reside in constructing an assembly of the type in questionin which maximum capacity is obtained with extremely low side walls andfurther to secure automatic discharge of the entire lading without aidof auxiliary means.

Still further objects reside in such structural details as contribute tothe strength and rigidity of the assembly, without use of expensiveexpedients in structure or assembly.

Other objects will more clearly hereinafter appear by reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a part of the specification and whereinlike characters of reference designatecorresponding parts throughout theseveral views in which:

Fig. l is a top plan view of my pan in its preferred embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the modification of Fig. 1, with one-halfin horizontal section.

Fig. 5 shows a partial top plan view of a modifled form of scoopincluding the use of three doors.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the form shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a transverse section.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of another pan modification.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the pan of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is an end elevation of Fig. 8 partly in section.

Fig. 11 is a. top plan of an unloader platform.

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view on line |3--i3 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a front end elevation of the structure of Figs. 11 and 12.

Fig. 15 is a top plan of a modified form of double ramp dump.

iii

Fig. 16 is a side elevation of the structure of Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a room layout showing the use of the double ramp dump.

Fig. 18 is a section on line 23-30 of Fig. 16.

Fig. 19 is a detail plan view or a single ramp dump layout with theinvention of Fig. 12 illustrated, and

Fig. 20 is a diagrammatic transverse elevation to illustrate coal andslate seams.

With reference now to Figures 1, 2 and 3 there is illustrated mypreferred form of dump box or pan. This pan is known as the clamshell'type and includes side walls til and end walls 5!. At each innercorner of the box there is provided a housing for enclosing a hinge forsupport and movement of the bottom sections. The shape, construction andarrangement of these hinge housings is best illustrated in Fig, 3 and itwill be seen from this figure that they are each formed of angular topplates 53 which project from the end walls 51, at their junction withthe side walls 5t extending inwardly and downwardly to terminate flushwith the bottom edge of the side and end walls. The side plates 52 ofthe housings are parallel to the fiat portions of the end walls 5!, andare each sufficiently spaced from its adjacent end wall portion toprovide for the proper arrangement of the hinges therein. The side walls52 are preferably formed as an integral part of the angular top plates53 although the specific mode of fabrication may not be of importance.Within these pockets are suspended the hangers or hinges 5d. The upperends of the hangers or hinges are mounted on the pins or bolts 55 whichconstitute pivots therefor, and the lower ends are flared to providerelatively large faces for attachment to the door sections. The enlargedfree ends 5t of the hinges are curved to conform to the door surface 5!to which they are attached and are secured to such faces by riveting orwelding as may be desired. It will be noted that the pivot pins 55extend transversely of the housings, through the side walls 52 of sameand through the adjacent end walls El of the pan and are removable topermit repair and interchange of these hinge parts.

The hangers E l have their pivotal mountings 55 positioned inward of theside walls so and upward of the bottom surface, the location beingdetermined by the size and curvature of the door sections to and itsstructure with respect to the other portions of the assembly whereby thedesirable movement is obtained. Inasmuch as the bottom door sectionswith the illustrated suspension will partially swing upward within the ofines of the side walls 58, it is essential that provision be made toprotect these doors from contact with the lading. in order that theirmovements may be entirely free. To provide for this the deflector plates58 are shown arranged inward of each side wall 50, the deflector platesbeing flanged under the uppe marginal edge of the adjacent scoopstructure and being inclined downwardly inwardly to a point. positionedinwardly oi the reinforced longitudinal edges 53 defining the innerextremity of the horizontal flanges 68 of the side walls. Thisarrangement of the deflector plates 53 provides compartments ofsufficient capacity to freely receive the curved outer edge portions ofthe bottom door sections 59 during their opening movement. It will alsobe noted that the deflect-or plates have a twofold function in that theynot only provide one wall of each door housing but also during unloadingof the scoop facilitate the discharge of the lading. In Fig. 3 I haveillustrated in dotted line at 6! the position assumed by the hingeddoor. It will be noted that this door dropsmaterially below the normalbottom line of the pan while. unloading.

Referring now to the details of construction of the pan of Figs. 1, 2and 3, it will be noted that the marginal edges of the horizontalflanges til are substantially beaded at 59- and reinforced. by doorhinge rod 69' which support in hinged relation the door sections 58'. Itwill also be noted that the runners 6 l each of which is in rectangularform, are arranged with their adjacent control longitudinal runnerportions substantially near the inner free edges of the door sectionswhile t eir outer longitudinal runner portions are so positioned as tobe free from contact with parts of the pan during the dumping operation.The ends of the runners 6i extend beyond the ends of the pan or box andare bent upwardly as at 62 to permit free drag in either direction.Plates G3 are positioned over the extending runner ends as best shown inFig. 1. Centrally at each end of the dump pan are the angular pivotedcable grips 64 horizontally pivoted by means of pins 65 to the fixedplates 65. The plates 65 are welded or otherwise secured to suchportions of the pan structure as the end walls 51. end head 59, or crossbrace 67 as best shown in Fig. 2. It will be noted by reference to Fig.-1 that the corners of the pan are curved to aid in its travel under urgeof the cable mechanism, and these curved corners are braced andreinforced by the curved corner plates 68. In Fig. there is shown insection the type of mine structure in which the present, development isparticularly adapted. In this disclosure it will be noted that the coalseam is indicated and above the coal seam is the slate structure.Obviously, the less of this slate which may have to be removed to permitthe use of the present unloading apparatus, the more profitable will bethe mining operation. It therefore, follows that by using the panillustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 much labor in the mine is eliminated andthe profits of those concerns in the mining operation may be materiallyincreased.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 illustrate a modified form of scoop or pan, in whichthe bottom is formed of three hinged door sections.

In these figures the scoop is of the three door type and as in otherinstances it includes the side walls 88 and end walls 8 l. These wallsare flanged inwardly at 82 and to the longitudinally flanged side dgesare hinged the drop door sections 83 and 84. The door sections 83 and 84comprise substantially two-thirds of the lading bottom of the pan andcooperate with a central door section 85 to complete the bottom closure.The centrol door section 85 has its ends flanged upwardly at 86 andcentrally perforated at 8'! to receive trunnions 88 which extend fromthe end walls Bl These portions may be suitably reinforced by adjacentplate sect-ions illustrated at 89, the purpose being: to providesuitable supporting trunnions for the free-swinging movement of theintermediate door section 85.

It will be noted that the door sections overlap and that therefore, theelevation of the sections vary in accordance with the overlappedarrangement. To accommodate for this the runners 85 on the differentdoors will be of relatively different diameter in order to bring thebottom horizontal ground engaging line to a common plane. In theinvention shown in. Figs. 5, 6 and 7 the central door section 85 beingslightly elevated above the outer hinged sections 33 and M necessitatethe use. of the relatively thick runners 85".

The pan shown inFigs. 8, 9, and 10 represents an improvement over thatpan disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,138,750 dated November 29, 1938.This pan is of relatively low structure including side walls 538 and endwalls 9 I all of which are reinforced at their upper edges by inturnedflanges 92 as shown in Fig. 9. The marginal portion of the bottom 83 isrigid with the side walls and is bent downwardly at St to form portionsof elongated hinged barrels, which latter are completed by the rolleredges 95 of the bottom plates 96 and 9?. To the bottom plates 96 and 9?are fixed the runners 98 and 98 being bent upwardly at their extremities89 to extend about and reinforce the beaded edges H33 of the bottom endportions. Cable couplings iii! are provided at each end of the pan.

The deflector l i l for handling the car loader or pan, forming thesubject-matter of my application Serial No. 356,879 filed September 14,1940, is adaptable for use in many type of mines and is primarilydesigned to eliminate trackage and permit substantially closer timberingthan is practical with other mechanical methods of loading. Figure 19,illustrates a single track entry layout in which the head rope isindicated at i l9, deflector at H], the pan passing around the deflectorat H2 and the tail rope H3. The ropes or cables I iii, H3 extend to thedump assemblies indicated generally at i id. These dump assembliesincluding the cable connections are shown in detail in Fig. 12.

Referring now to Figs. 11, 12, 13 and 14, it will be seen that theelevated frame beneath which the cars are shuttled and from which thepansare discharged includes adjustable uprights or posts I28, in thepresent instance two being positioned for supporting the forward end ofthe horizontal tracks forming the unloading stand and twobeingpositioned to support the rear end of the same. Each of the postsincludes a stake or jack of somewhat the same type as utilized in thedehector structure in that the lower end of the base portion is pointedas at l2! to readily secure. the necessary footing. The upper end isprovided with the adjustable threaded screw 22 actuated by the nut I23provided with operating handles I24. The screw E22 carries the swivelledplate for engaging the mine ceiling and the structure of this plate maybe modified in accordance with requirements. Thus it will be seen thatthe main supporting elements are provided for quick assembly anddisassembly. The tracks of inturned angles I38 are clamped, bolted,welded or otherwise secured to the uprights I20 at a suitable elevationand likewise the transverse supporting opposed channels I3! are securedto each pair of posts below the angle lilil and eX- tend laterally ofthe posts to provide supporting arms for the pulleys I32, which latterare mounted in the supporting frame I33 and secured in position bysuitable means securing the transverse support ISI and the flanges I34.The supporting structure between each pair of posts includes the opposedchannels I3 I, heretofore mentioned, upon which is secured the plate orcap I35 (see Fig. 13). This plate I35 is bent upward at its front edge I36 and at each end lsl, the former bent up portion on vertical flangeI36 being the securing means for the ramp and the end plates it! beingused to mount the hinge pin I39 and the supporting roller Hill. Theroller I 48 is interposed between the downwardly bent ends Hill of theside rails or angles ltd and the upper end of the ramp supports M2 andoperates as a transfer medium between these parts and for the loader panshown. The hinge pin I39 supports the vertically adjustable plate Idli'which functions as the control member for the hinged bottom plates ofthe pan. Side supports M3 are adjustably carried by the angle members539 by means of the slot and bolt connection HM and a latch M5cooperating with a pin M5 on the plate M0 to secure the parts in theirupper position when desired.

At the entrance end of the horizontally arranged unloader frame there isprovided the inclined ramp i511 which terminates adjacent the angularends 539 of the horizontal angles I 38 and comp-rises inturned sideangles I42 with connecting plates E53 alon which the pan travels in itsmovement to the horizontal frame I353 from which the load in the pan isdischarged. The ramp is formed of such a length as to provide a suitableangle for proper manipulation of the pan, the lower end being anchoredby means of the outwardly flared anchor plates I54. Adjacent the outerends of the anchor plate and inward of the same are. the uprights I 55and 556 formed of joined angles and between which is journalled theguide roller it? at a proper height to provide the necessary clearancefor the pan and engage the manipulating cable. The standards and I56which support the roller I51 are of angle form with one arm of eachoutturned to provide a shelf E58 upon which the cable guides or pulleyI58 and IE9 are supported. These pulleys are in vertical alignment withthe pulley I32 and in longitudinal alignment with the pulley SI wherebythe operating cable is maintained in proper alignment for operation ofthe pan. At the junction of the inclined ramp I50 and the horizontalguide rail I35 is the transverse guide roller Me which cooperates withthe roller I51 heretofore described in the operation of the apparatus.The rollers It'll and I55 align the cable I55! with the Windlass i6!driven by the motor ISI'. The motor Iti' is provided with the returnpulley I62 which receives the cable I63.

Referring now to Figs. 15, 16, 17 and 18 there is illustrated a two-wayramp or unloader mechanism, which by reference to Fig. 17 is capable ofaccommodating pans or buckets travelling from opposed cuts M, N at eachside of the transversely arranged rails P. It will be noticed that thecars R travel on the rails P beneath the twoway ramp, this arrangementbeing more clearly illustrated in Fig. 16. In Fig. 16 a pan of the typeillustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is shown in unloading position, the sidewalls 50 of the pan and the drop doors 55'! being clearly shown, withthe doors in their lowered or discharge position. The cable arrangementnecessarily diifers from the cable arrangement in the single dumpset-up, however, such cable arrangement is generally illustrated indiagrammatic manner in Fig, 1'7 in which the pans are illustrated at S,S, the pan 3 moving toward the unloader and the pan S moving towards thedeflector T. The structure of the two-way ramp or unloader set-up is insubstance the same as that in the single unloader set-up of Figs. ll,l2, 13, 14 and 19 in that the adjustable stakes I 28 are utilized forpositioning the apparatus and the ramp includes the side angles M2 andthe connecting sheets I53. Guide rollers Il'll at each end of the rampare supported by the uprights I'II formed of suitable angles andconstituting footing for the laterally extending angular brace sheetsI12. In this assembly there is an intermediate support I73 for one endof the unloader section of the ramp to permit offset arrangement of theadjustable stake lit for the accommodation of the multiple pulley set-upIlli essential to proper connection with the Windlass illustrateddiagrammatically. at I16 in Fig. 17. The connection of the cable withtheWindlass and with the pans, including their cooperation with thedeflectors and guide stakes is also illustrated in this figure. By thearrangement of ramp shown, it will be apparent that a substantiallycontinuous loading and unloading of the pan may be accomplished from two010- posed cuts and by means of a single power set-up using a continuouscable. While one pan is being unloaded the other is in loading positionat the end of the cut and this arrangement could be modified to useadditional pans on the same cables although such an arrangement is notillustrated. It will be noted that the support for the guide rollers I'mis somewhat modified or simplified at each end of the ramp elements I42in that angle structures are used for the uprights I'II which uprightsare braced by the angle structures Ill connected intermediate the ramps.The deflecting braces I'IZ constitute also braces for the uprights HIand perfect a rigid but inexpensive structure. The ramp assembly and theparts constituting the same are connected by separable connections suchas bolts where the parts are to be separated during assembly anddisassembly. It is also contemplated that the dual ramp arrangement maybe applied to the single ramp arrangement by duplicating the ramp end ofthe dump.

What I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

l. A mine scoop including side and end walls, and a bottom, said bottomincluding hinged sections, the outer sections of said bottom beingswingingly suspended by hangers the upper ends of which are pivoted tosupports located intermediate the vertical height of said end walls, anddeflector plates in said scoop forming with said side walls compartmentsto receive said outer swinging bottom sections when in their elevatedposition.

2. A mine scoop including side and end walls, rigid bottom sectionsadjacent the side walls, and hinged bottom sections, said hinged bottomsections including pivoted hangers fixed to the end wall at a positionpermitting the said bottom sections to swing inwardly of the side walls,and hoods extending from the end walls and enclosing said hangers.

3. A mine scoop including side and end walls, a sectional bottom, hingedhangers for said sectional bottom fixed to the end walls, inclineddeflector sheets projecting downwardly and inwardly of the side wallsfor enclosing said bottom sections when in their dumped position, andhoods for said hangers.

4. A mine scoop including side and end walls, a bottom, said bottomincluding a plurality of sections, certain of said sections being hingedinward of the lower marginal edges of said side walls, an additionalbottom section hinged with its axis extending from end to end of saidscoop and arranged intermediate the side walls, and individual runnersfor each bottom section including spaced central portions and upturnedextremities.

5. A mine scoop including side and end walls, rigid bottom sectionsextending inwardly from the side walls, and hinged bottom sectionsswinging downwardly from said rigid bottom sections, runners for eachhinged bottom section, said runners each including a pair of spacedrunner elements and said runner elements being each of a thickness toengage a surface in a common horizontal plane regardless of the relativeelevation of the respective door sections.

6. A mine scoop including side and end Walls, said side and end Wallsbeing formed with upper and lower marginal reinforcing portions,downwardly swinging bottom sections hinged inward of the side walls,runners for said bottom sections including elongated spaced parallelrunner portions and upturned end portions, said upturned end portionsextending beyond the ends of said scoop and having independent overlyingfixed plates.

7. A drag scoop comprising a box like assembly having a plurality ofhorizontally extending downwardly swinging hinged bottom sections, theadjacent free edges of said hinged sections overlapping, runners forsaid sections, said runners being constructed and arranged so that theywill present a ground engaging surface lying in a common horizontalplane, and upturned deflectors at each end of said bottom sections, saidupturned deflectors being reinforced by projecting ends of said runners.

8. In a mine scoop including side and end walls, fixed inwardlyprojecting bottom portions extending from the side walls and terminatingin a reinforced beading, said beading extending throughout the length ofsaid fixed side wall portions and being connected by beading extendingalong the lower horizontal portion of the end walls, deflector platesprojecting downwardly and inwardly from the upper longitudinal edges ofsaid side walls, and bottom sections for said scoop, said bottomsections being suspended by hangers fixed to said end walls andincluding upturned outer marginal portions adapted to be confinedbetween said deflectors and said side walls when said bottom sectionsare in discharge position.

9. The substance or claim .8 characterized in that hoods extend inwardlyand downwardly from the end walls to enclose said hangers.

10. A box type loader for mines comprising side and end walls, fixedbottom portions adjacent the side walls, swinging bottom portionsproviding a closure between the inner marginal edges of the fixed bottomportions, individual runner secured to said swingipg bottom portions,said runners including spaced central portions and upturned extremities,said extremities projecting beyond said end walls and plates fixed toand overlying.

the projecting portions.

11. A box type leader for mines comprising side and end walls, fixedbottom portions adjacent the side walls, swinging bottom portions havingupwardly extending end portions hinged to said fixed bottom portionsadjacent their inner edges 40 to provide a, closure between said fixedbottom portions, and runners secured to the swinging bottom portions,said runners extending longitudinally of the bottom and having theirextremities bent upwardly against said upwardly extending end portions.

GILBERT SMITH.

